Description
Grilled Hawaiian BBQ Chicken brings tropical flavors straight to your backyard grill with zesty pineapple marinade and juicy chicken. Tender meat soaks up sweet and tangy sauce, creating a simple summer meal that’ll transport your taste buds to paradise.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Fruits and Juices:
- 1 small pineapple
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
Seasonings and Sauces:
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Optional: chopped green onion
Instructions
- Slice the fresh pineapple into large wedges, removing the tough outer skin. If using canned pineapple, skip the prep work and set aside the pieces.
- Whisk together ¼ cup pineapple juice, ¼ cup olive oil, 3 tbsp soy sauce, ½ cup BBQ sauce, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tsp minced garlic, 1 tsp black pepper, ½ tsp sea salt, and ½ tsp paprika in a large bowl until the marinade looks smooth and well-combined.
- Submerge 4 chicken breasts completely in the marinade, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for exactly 25 minutes to let the flavors penetrate the meat.
- Heat the grill to 400°F and spray the grates with non-stick cooking spray. This prevents the chicken from sticking during grilling.
- Arrange the marinated chicken breasts on the preheated grill. Close the lid and cook for 5 minutes until char marks appear on the bottom.
- Carefully flip each chicken breast, brushing with additional marinade. Cook for another 5 minutes with the lid closed.
- Place the pineapple wedges directly on the grill alongside the chicken. Grill the pineapple for 3-4 minutes per side until slight caramelization occurs.
- Continue cooking the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, which typically takes an additional 5-7 minutes.
- Remove the chicken and pineapple from the grill. Let the chicken rest for 3-4 minutes to redistribute the juices.
- Slice the chicken and arrange on a platter with grilled pineapple. Garnish with chopped green onions if desired.
Notes
- Fresh pineapple adds incredible natural sweetness and helps tenderize the chicken during marinating.
- Always check chicken’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F for safe consumption.
- Marinate for no longer than 30 minutes to prevent the acid in pineapple juice from breaking down chicken’s texture too much.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular soy sauce with tamari and choose a gluten-free BBQ sauce.
- Prep Time: 25-35 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg